I’m 5’4, 155lbs, female w/ junk in my trunk. I have a size small and it fits great! I typically wear a medium or size 9 in pants/jeans. I was sent these spats several months ago and I LOVE them. When I received them in the mail I just laid in my bed and rolled around a bit because they are so comfortable.

Also my beagle mix sheds like crazy and dog hair does NOT stick to them. This is an issue I have with the running tights I purchase from Target or Old Navy. While the price point is nice, these ‘running tights’ are thicker, usually have zippers, and unfortunately I look like a human lint roller by the time I make it to class. These Combat Corner Grappling Spats however make me look very ‘official’ and like I ‘know what I’m doing’ lol.

Pros:

Great fit

Light, sturdy material

Aesthetically pleasing/ They’re HOT

no muffin top, bunching around the waist

Washer/Dryer Safe

Decent Price

No human lint brush action (pet hair slides right off it)

Initially I was worried about the length of the spats because I’m short but it doesn’t bunch at the ankles at all. These spats are extremely light, soft, and cute. They do not make me have a muffin top during class & I don’t have to readjust them at all.

I can shoot double legs without being bothered. I can also jog in formation and not have to worry about mybadonkadonkbouncing all over the place. I wear these spats to BJJ class, mountain biking, to college classes, and I go grocery shopping in these.

The folks in Kroger are jealous, I can tell. I’ve received compliments from athletes and normies alike. These grappling spats provide me with the comfort of sweat pants without the feeling of ratchetness associated with wearing them in public.

Cons:

The material on the backside is slightly sheer

They are not IBJJF approved

As great as these spats are there is a catch. I must emphasize this because it took a couple of training sessions before I noticed it. AttentionLadies, when you are dressing in the comfort of your own home it would appear that you can wear anything beneath these tights without being exposed.

Be aware that the backside is a bit sheer under fluorescent lighting (oh yes the dreadful gym lights show it all), therefore no light (white/pastels) panties and especiallyABSOLUTELY UNDER NO CIRCUMSTANCESwear underwear with lettering lol. No one at the gym wants to look at “sexy,” “taken,” or the word “love” on your rump. Other than having to choose my undergarments wiser than with other bottoms, these spats are amazing!! Not only do they make your bottom bits look really good but it feels and performs great as well.

The red color block detailing on the ankle prohibit these tights from being worn during IBJJF no-gi competitions. However any other grappling tournament…anywhere will allow them so this isn’t a real deterrent. Moreso it’s simply something to be mindful. In any case Combat Corner has several IBJJF approved rashguards and some board shorts (Pro MMA2.0, eco, and their vale tudos)f or no-gi if you’re in the market.

Want to see the Combat Corner Grappling Spats & Rashguard in action? Check out the vid below Happy training!

Filed under: Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu, shakia harris]]>https://shakiaharris.wordpress.com/2014/09/23/combat-corner-grappling-spats-reviewmy-fav-training-item/feed/2ccgsshakiaharrisGT-2T10336607_10154705279590160_530789417378449214_n10702045_10154705278520160_2182198592587888997_n1545882_10154705269765160_8019229162486774379_nThe greatest painhttps://shakiaharris.wordpress.com/2014/06/19/the-greatest-pain/
https://shakiaharris.wordpress.com/2014/06/19/the-greatest-pain/#respondFri, 20 Jun 2014 02:18:46 +0000http://shakiaharris.wordpress.com/2014/06/19/the-greatest-pain/Continue reading →]]>I don’t want my page to be all super sad, feel free to ignore and scroll past, but I can’t help but mention june 18, 2011. It’s not even about, “I remember what I was doing on that day..that morning..what we planned to do later on.” For me personally what sticks with me everyday is that feeling, that jolt, that single blow when it became my reality and all that followed. Couldn’t think, speak, or see clearly. Walking and breathing felt impossible. Till this day nothing surpasses the pain that followed. That deep sense of loss & longing lingers after all this time and for me is just as strong today as it was 3 yrs ago, it’s simply profound. Nevertheless we move forward, that’s what matters, the memories you still hold and just always moving forward no matter what.Filed under: shakia harris]]>https://shakiaharris.wordpress.com/2014/06/19/the-greatest-pain/feed/0shakiaharrisQ5 Labs Sample Reviewshttps://shakiaharris.wordpress.com/2014/06/10/q5-labs-sample-reviews/
https://shakiaharris.wordpress.com/2014/06/10/q5-labs-sample-reviews/#commentsTue, 10 Jun 2014 23:26:12 +0000http://shakiaharris.wordpress.com/?p=2581Continue reading →]]>This review is different from others that I’ve done in that the product (Q5 Sample pack) sent doesn’t retail anymore in the way that I received it, however the individual products do exist in different sizes. At one point Q5 labs retailed a sample pack of some of their popular supplements for 10$ to aid a person in deciding if they wanted to invest the additional 30-50$ on the full size item. When I first saw this I thought it was an excellent idea. I can’t tell you how many opened yet nearly full canisters or protein powder and other assortments of supplements are in the pantry because we didn’t like the taste or didn’t notice a difference in implementation.
When I was first contacted august of 2013 I was very excited because I had several tournaments I wanted to prepare for and I only use supplements when I’m cutting weight and/or increasing my training volume. However I did not receive the actual product until the beginning of 2014 which meant a significant delay in this review as I wanted to save what I did receive for worlds/pan ams prep which I apologize for. The main reason why I have difficulty with this review is that not only were there no nutritional facts included with what I received but the servings varied container to container and those were not marked either. I’d also like to add that the sample pack I received for sent to me. However had I purchased this independently personally I’d be slightly annoyed as this particular product is marketed as something to aid a person on the go. If I’m rushing because I have to get to class or get to work I don’t have time to jump on the computer every morning to look up what’s in the cannisters. But that is just a little gripe and remember this particular sample pack is no longer available on the site (As of 6/10/14) so it could probably be disregarded. Another disclaimer regarding my views on these products most of the servings with the exception of the protein powder were so small that I cannot attest to how this specific product would make me feel over even a 7 day span in time.

I will admit I was hesitant on whether or not to include this impression but I saw here where another reviewer expressed the same concern. Now I don’t want it to seem like oooh I want free stuff I’m mad I didn’t get more, that’s just not the case. For future reference to Q5 it would probably be best to send one item with a few servings than five items at one serving especially when it’s important as a consumer to know how a particular product made you feel long term.

Both I was able to ration over a couple training sessions and they mixed up great into my regular shakes which contain an assortment of things including: spinach or kale, frozen or fresh berries (raspberries, strawberries, blackberries), pineapple/mango, and if necessary ice. Both chocolate and vanilla with these choices resulted in something that tasted like a fruit roll up YUM and I did not get gassy or bloated afterward. I’ve noticed that side effect with other wheys. I don’t know why just a little coincidence. The whey protein powders I would definitely purchase. I also used a scoop of each to mix in with my fiber rich oatmeal for breakfast with honey and that was mighty tasty as well.

Launch Fuel

This one I wasn’t so sure about. I’m not really a big fan of pre-workout mixes. I don’t like the fluttering or increased heart rate prior to bjj. However, even though this particular sample was very small I did notice that at the end of a particularly tiring class I felt great. My recovery was pretty good and I had a more insistent need to roll additional rounds at the end of the class. This was followed by the rather annoying side effect of having to promptly use the bathroom. However I wouldn’t mind taking this supplement on a regular basis a couple of times a week.

Meh: Warrior Purple & Warrior Green

These products are great if you have issues with acquiring a daily dose of greens and fruits. However I do not fit into that category. No matter how poor I’m always well stocked on spinach, broccoli, other veggies, and lots of fruits. Regardless I still tried to give it a fair shake and personally I would not purchase these two. I did not like the taste and I could not tell any prolonged effect of ingesting these products. On paper I do think that these could be great supplements for someone on the go with less access to ‘good’ foods and missing some key nutrients.

Filed under: gear review, shakia harris]]>https://shakiaharris.wordpress.com/2014/06/10/q5-labs-sample-reviews/feed/11aaaashakiaharris1b21b1Nothing to lose…https://shakiaharris.wordpress.com/2014/05/22/nothing-to-lose/
https://shakiaharris.wordpress.com/2014/05/22/nothing-to-lose/#respondThu, 22 May 2014 07:01:27 +0000http://shakiaharris.wordpress.com/?p=2569Continue reading →]]>A couple weeks ago I suffered an injury that kept me out of training for a bit and left me unable to perform a lot of daily tasks. Close to that time I also got into a fender bender that cost me my entire travel fund for worlds. Exactly one week ago I decided that it was just not possible to go. Not only was I experiencing severe pain and frustration physically but emotionally and mentally I just couldn’t figure out how I could make it work and by myself at that. To be honest I’m not sure what triggered the shift but something hit me a few days ago and with the encouragement of two of my teammates I decided that I had nothing to lose. Literally, yeah I’m falling to pieces and have no money to my name. But, I’ve already paid for it, I love going and working the events, this could be the one true time that I’m 100% motivated by fun and experience. Even though I hate to admit it, most times I’m motivated by the medal and it stresses me out!

I can picture a million different ways that this could play out. However of all the tournaments I’ve done I’ve never once gone, “Man I really regret spending the money…or going.” I’m excited to get away, be among friends, and just have fun. If you see me there I promise it’ll be with a smile on my face, no matter what. I know that’s not the typical beasty-hulk smash-warrior spirit like ramblings that are present during this time of year, but …oh well.

Filed under: shakia harris]]>https://shakiaharris.wordpress.com/2014/05/22/nothing-to-lose/feed/0922726_514433045278495_163630678_nshakiaharrisImageFood for thought courtesy of Ayn Randhttps://shakiaharris.wordpress.com/2014/05/14/food-for-thought-courtesy-of-ayn-rand/
https://shakiaharris.wordpress.com/2014/05/14/food-for-thought-courtesy-of-ayn-rand/#respondWed, 14 May 2014 19:56:10 +0000http://shakiaharris.wordpress.com/?p=2559Continue reading →]]>I’m not particularly sure how I ended up in this rabbit hole. However I’ve constructed a lengthy list of texts and works by some significant philosophers that have recently piqued my interest. Among them is Ayn Rand, whom I was introduced to her works several years ago. Life experience and my general desire for information has enabled me to be in a place where I can actually understand and interpret many of her ideals and I came across the following excerpt and found it quite interesting. I will preface it by seeing this is not a subliminal posting of any kind, I have no agenda. It’s just one of the many things I’ve read in the past 24 hours that has lingered in brain:““Love is blind, they say; sex is impervious to reason and mocks the power of all philosophers. But, in fact, a person’s sexual choice is the result and sum of their fundamental convictions. Tell me what a person finds sexually attractive and I will tell you their entire philosophy of life. Show me the person they sleep with and I will tell you their valuation of themselves.

No matter what corruption they’re taught about the virtue of selflessness, sex is the most profoundly selfish of all acts, an act which they cannot perform for any motive but their own enjoyment – just try to think of performing it in a spirit of selfless charity! – an act which is not possible in self-abasement, only in self-exultation, only on the confidence of being desired and being worthy of desire. It is an act that forces them to stand naked in spirit, as well as in body, and accept their real ego as their standard of value. They will always be attracted to the person who reflects their deepest vision of themselves, the person whose surrender permits them to experience – or to fake – a sense of self-esteem .. Love is our response to our highest values – and can be nothing else.” – Ayn Rand

I also really loved this one as well:

“In order to deal with reality successfully – to pursue and achieve the values which his life requires – man needs self-esteem; he needs to be confident of his efficacy and worth.”

Can you tell “A New Concept of Egoism,” by Ayn Rand is on my summer reading list

Filed under: shakia harris]]>https://shakiaharris.wordpress.com/2014/05/14/food-for-thought-courtesy-of-ayn-rand/feed/0srshakiaharrisarBrazilian Jiu Jitsu & Carpal Tunnel Syndromehttps://shakiaharris.wordpress.com/2014/05/09/bjj-helped-my-carpal-tunnel-syndrome/
https://shakiaharris.wordpress.com/2014/05/09/bjj-helped-my-carpal-tunnel-syndrome/#commentsFri, 09 May 2014 07:50:59 +0000http://shakiaharris.wordpress.com/?p=2546Continue reading →]]>I was diagnosed with having Carpal Tunnel Syndrome at the age of 19 (in 2009, I’m now 23ish ). It was severe enough to wear I had to buy computer software to complete my college assignments via voice-text as I could not type without extreme discomfort.

I can remember being a junior in high school and in the middle of taking notes experiencing a tingling sensation followed by numbness in my hands…or worse sometimes I’d reach for something and this jolt of pain would shoot all the way up my arm and my hands would just lock up. I would experience panic and then as I would try to flex my fingers I would experience sharp jolts of pain all the way to my neck. It sucked. Worst of all I had no clear idea what was wrong and my age proved to be a strange factor in diagnosing the issue. I tried to fix it by buying wrist braces but it didn’t do very much.

By this point I couldn’t even do my own hair. I would try to put it up in a ponytail or flat iron it and my hands could not make it through the entire task. They would almost always lock up and it stressed me out terribly. Finally I went to a specialist and many tests later I was finally diagnosed with having carpal tunnel syndrome. To be honest I thought it was something that old and pregnant ladies got. After doing several assessments including a very painful one involving electro-something I was told that it isn’t all that uncommon however they commented that for my age and it’s severity it was strange.
Apart from surgery the only real option I was given was a few meetings with a physical therapist, a different pair of hand braces that allowed no wrist movement, and some ibuprofen . Needless to say this didn’t remediate anything and I was forced to purchase the Dragon products so that I could use the voice to text software to complete my assignments and pass my classes. Even though I would complain to my peers and family I don’t think anyone really understood how bad my carpal tunnel had gotten. I would be driving and my hands would lock up and apart from panicking I’d have to use my knees or wrist to turn, it was a mess. Sometimes I felt like I had mannequin hands.

Anyways when I started training BJJ in 2010 I was apprehensive because all of the grip work. If I couldn’t even wash my own hair without pain I knew that gripping the gi continuously was going to be a huge hassle, and it was…at first. For the first few months I can actually remember experiencing a great deal of pain and strain. However as my game progressed and I identified an appeal towards spider guard and the 4-finger sleeve grips I noticed that this specific practice resulted in fewer occurrences of pain, tingling, and most importantly numbing in my hands. Instead of experiencing these symptoms a couple times a day, I went to just a few times a week and now four years later I’m at a few times a month and I’m doing more computer work (due to finals) than ever.

I chose to write this post because many people have so many excuses for avoiding bjj or certain activities and I think that it’s very important to find ways to adapt an activity for participation. When I first started and I couldn’t maintain a grip for long periods of time then I would “cup” my hands or make slight adjustments. I’m extremely glad that I chose to continue this activity because apart from my emotional, mental, and other physical benefits relieving me of the painful and expensive symptoms of having carpal tunnel syndrome has been wonderful. When I was initially diagnosed and pitched some options I was extremely apprehensive about getting the surgery because it was very expensive, they had to operate on one hand at a time, and even worse many studies showed that after surgery symptoms reappeared. That just didn’t seem worth it to me and I’m glad that I just so happened to stumble upon a much better alternative remediate practice.
Even when my CPS flares up from time to time I don’t experience pain or discomfort for nearly as long and it’s not as severe as it once was. I can perform tasks like typing papers for longer periods of time however I do still have difficulty with other things like combing or washing my hair because of the fatigue I still experience.

Now every person is different. Excessive grip work may not be best for all but if you’re just starting out or thinking about BJJ and this is something that you’re having trouble with I’d highly recommend that you stick it out and observe the improvements.

“Competitors… Pressure comes with the territory. How you handle it determines your performance. No emotion is more detrimental to performance than panic. It is a very human emotion but the best competitors have “mind calming” routines that they can call on in any situation. They develop the ability to go into a relaxed state and be at ease when others become tighter. When you think, “I have to do this” it usually only compounds mistakes.” – Proactive Coaching

Filed under: shakia harris]]>https://shakiaharris.wordpress.com/2014/04/07/competitors-p/feed/0proshakiaharrisIBJJF 2014 Pan Ams, Day 1-3https://shakiaharris.wordpress.com/2014/03/19/ibjjf-2014-pan-ams-day-1-3/
https://shakiaharris.wordpress.com/2014/03/19/ibjjf-2014-pan-ams-day-1-3/#respondWed, 19 Mar 2014 15:11:24 +0000http://shakiaharris.wordpress.com/?p=2526Continue reading →]]>I was very fortunate to have saved up pennies to compete at the IBJJF Pan Ams in Irvine, Ca. Now I’m not Mrs. Moneybags. In order to compete I have to work the events because as of yet I do not have any sponsors (email if interested ) to help with travel or registration fees. Nevertheless I had a BALL! I chose to scorekeep because RC is too stressful and you’re on your feet all day. Plus scorekeeping allows more opportunities to network and converse with new people, which is exactly what I did.

One of my favorite people…he doesn’t speak English, I speak no Portuguese, it was fun.

I had worked previously at Worlds so I was used to the hussle and bussle. However, I did not anticipate being the English speaking minority. I had some difficulties communicating with some of the officials because of a language barrier but we made it work and played some charades along the way. I will definitely add the IBJJF Pan Ams to my list of MUST attend events for work and competition. The competition was superb. I witnessed hundreds (literally) of great matches. The vast majority of them were so close it really emphasized to me how important every last second in a match is. I have so much respect for everyone that competed. However I also witnessed DOZENS of matches with fairly well known athletes where they’d stall for 5 or 6 minutes and then in the last minute finally move for the advantage. YAWN. Those matches were excruciating to watch because it didn’t seem to catch the essence of competing at such a prestigious event. One of the refs came by and commented that if you’re not going to fight then what’s the point of being there. I agree with that point completely.

I competed on Day 2, and I don’t really know what to say about it to be honest. I’m afraid to say anything as I haven’t watched my match yet and my memory still has gaps so I’m going to say as much as I can with as little of the picture I have. I lost my match 5-2. Had a couple triangle and omoplata attempts but she escaped. Scrambled. Got the fireman’s carry but I should’ve adjusted for the 5’11 legs better. I had to dump her in front and she attacked kimura from there, I escaped but relinquished position to escape. She passed, she won. I had several opportunities to more aggressively impose my game and to finish the match and I was not successful. I was deeply saddened and frustrated and now I’m objectively looking to improve my game. A few quick notes:

Dropping to middle weight, I weighed it at the very bottom of medium heavy

Always going to try to have someone there to coach and for support.

Stick to my guns. For some reason the past few tournaments I’ve strayed significantly from my game. Idk if it’s nerves or panic or what but especially when I’m by myself competing I go all bjj-rogue and afterwards I’m just thinking, “Why didn’t I just go for what I’m good at?”

But no worries, with every loss is a great opportunity for improvement which is what I started yesterday. Thankful for my teammates that have already gotten a jumpstart on cleaning up holes and providing suggestions for problem areas. One cool thing I noticed about the matches overall is that there was a heavy emphasis on the standup game. This occurred prominently in the female divisions as well. I’m used to seeing dull “scissor-fests” and a lot of people were working for the throws, leg trips, etc. It was awesome and truly changes the game completely. At that level every advantage and point count.

I met A LOT of cool people and had so much fun. Worth every penny spent and minute on the mat.

Hmmm…is there anything else I’m leaving out… Oh yes. So I thought I was going to witness another Andre Galvao climbing over the barricade incident but it appeared friends and other refs were able to calm him down. I was scoring a match and glanced over and my eyes were literally bulging out of my face. He was in full hulk mode over a match with one of his students. I’d hate to have that man mad at me. Also I love the new system the IBJJF is using to score and organize. The RCs were given a list of matches and their order and it left little to human error apart from checking id’s. The one thing that was a little iffy is that whenever a ref gives a penalty or more then it would automatically compute the opponents advantage or point and if you weren’t well versed with this rule or paying attention then it caused a fuss because you’d give the opponent an additional advantage or point. I had the hardest time with that the first day (ex: My opponent gets two penalties so I automatically get an advantage…3 penalties and I get 2 points, 4 penalties and I believe they’re DQ’d.

I only saw a few DQ but I did get to witness the dreadful “Celebration gone wrong.” After the black belt match at worlds last year in the finals match I thought that EVERYONE knew not to run off the mat in celebration until your hand was raised. Well this guy missed that memo:

I’ve previously reviewed the Combat Corner Eco V2 blue gi. To be honest it has been dethroned as my favorite gi.Eco V2 I love you dearly but the Eco V3 is on top. I always like to emphasize that in the past few years I’ve spent/wasted HUNDREDS of dollars on gis. I hate to use the word wasted but that’s essentially what I did. I’ve tried light, ultralight, competition cut, female cut,etc. Unfortunately many of my gis were ill fitting and would tear within the first 18 months

Before I received these gis, I had actually made amends with the fact that because of my shapely physique I was doomed to never truly being comfortable with all of that excess fabric in the shoulder and general pants area. I even purchased two gis with “female cuts” (kingz & fenom) to solve my problem. The kingz gi fit like a charm except it tore left and right. The fenom gi (review on that gi coming soon) had a great price point but the fit wasn’t exactly what I wanted. I was too muscular and broad in shoulders for the sizing I selected. Their pants were ok but the ripstop pants in 2 different sizes were TIGHT on the thighs.

Alas, I have both the blue and white Combat Corner Eco V3, A1. The cut,weight, and color are similar to the V2. However there is one particular change that I cannot roll without… *drumroll* The Eco V3 gi has the rope-like drawstring. It knots on both ends and is a dream. Of my 7 previously owned gis (Koral, Fenom, Vulkan, Kingz etc.) it’s the first one I’ve owned that has that feature (uh note to gi companies, catch up please).

Instead of having to stop rolls or have another cheek exposed, my uniform stays on (except when I’m being lazy) and doesn’t inhibit my rolling at all. The fit is still perfect. I’m 5’3, 155lbs, have small top, large arms, round bottom, and I’m very comfortable in it. There’s a 5’6 165lb purple belt male that also likes this gi however he felt he didn’t have enough ‘room’ for laundering the A1 so he recommended that persons with his specs opt for the A2 instead.

I alternate the Eco V3 and Eco V2 3-4 times a week. They ARE IBJJF legal. I’ve competed at the UAEJJ Abu Dhabi Trials in the blue V3 and not once did my match have to be paused because of malfunctions. I will acknowledge that my tone in this review until this point may appear slightly dramatic but I cannot express just how frustrating this area of BJJ has been for me and other female competitors over the past few years. A good fitting uniform is important. One of the most annoying things in the world is to be reset in a match because your pants are at your ankles,especially when you have some good momentum . I look forward to wearing this gi at the IBJJF Pan Ams next week. I’ve worked their events before and have no doubt that it will pass inspection with flying colors.

Photo credit: Drew Bly

PROS

Overall I’d really recommend the gi and for many reasons:

1. The cut is sharp and fits well.

2. Minimal patches (not suffering from ‘walking billboard’ syndrome)

3. Rope drawstring pants

4. High quality products (looks and feels expensive for a fraction of cost)

5. COST. It floats around 100$.This gi is uber affordable. At one of my most futile attempts to buy a gi for competition i spent nearly 200$ because the infamous Michelle Nicolini wore it so it must be good. -____- . That gi not only felt like sandpaper but ripped from my waist to my knee in less than 18 months.

Cons (kind of)

Now I’m not completely biased, here are a few things to watch out for with this gi.

1.)Size. If you’re floating at the top end of the weight recommendation on the gi sizing chart you may want to go a size up so that you have room to launder your gi. Many of us have busy schedules that don’t always permit washing the gi on cold temps and air drying it with classical music playing in the background. Sometimes you forget to throw it in or life happens and next thing you know the gi’s taking a ride in the dryer and the sleeves have shrunk a bit. If you go a size up you can at least give yourself more wiggle room for stuff like that. Personally I’m fine with the A1 but my 5’6, 165lb teammate advised that an A2 would suit him best. I also worry about the length of the pants. I’m 5’3, 5’4ish and the pants are right at the ankles, if you’re close to 5’8 they may be barely competition legal.

2.) Shipping Price. Personally I think it’s worth the total price but be aware that the shipping (UPS/USPS) could tack on an additional 12-15$ using the lowest priced options. When I ordered my white A1 V3 gi (yes I have two, because they’re awesome) my package arrived in about 3 days.

**Disclaimer:I was sent the blue eco v3 to review & compete in. I chose to purchase the white eco v3 after success with the blue.